SAN JOSE -- Former Santa Clara County Supervisor George Shirakawa Jr. made his first public appearance Monday since his political demise, belting out "Guilty, Your Honor," 12 times in a basement courtroom.

Resolute in a pin-striped suit with fists at times clenched, the veteran politician acknowledged his crimes a few hundred yards from the government high-rise where he once exercised enormous power, formally admitting to a dozen charges involving the use of more than $100,000 in taxpayer and campaign donor funds to feed his gambling habit.

Silicon Valley's most-watched political scandal confronts the former District 2 supervisor, school board member and San Jose City Councilman with up to a year in jail and as many as five years on probation. Shirakawa, who championed the cause of prisoners reentering society, now must submit three DNA samples and will never be able to possess a firearm for the rest of his life. The first county supervisor here to face felony charges in more than a quarter century is also barred from ever holding public office again in California.

The plea deal he reached with the local prosecutor, which included his resignation, averted a potential eight-year prison term. But he has now lost his six-figure salary, his pension and he owes at least $70,000 in fines. It appeared Shirakawa met his fate Monday without relatives, friends or supporters. The 21-year politician slipped out of the 190 W. Hedding St. courthouse, escorted by his attorney John Williams, and bolted away into a waiting Chevrolet SUV. He refused to answer questions from a bank of reporters.

While Shirakawa's plea before Superior Court Judge Philip Pennypacker resolves the five felony and seven misdemeanor charges, there are some signs Shirakawa's case is not over. In a development Monday, Assistant District Attorney Karyn Sinunu-Towery said she had received tax forms that indicated Shirakawa had won $400,000 in one gambling escapade alone. She said she knows of no additional charges to come, but is continuing to check out tips, such as a recent lead from San Jose's acting city clerk who reported the possibility of forgery in Shirakawa's City Council campaign filings from more than a decade ago.

The deal reached with the former supervisor was an attempt to protect the public from him as quickly as possible, Sinunu-Towery said. "We wanted to end the nightmare."

George Shirakawa Jr. leaves the courtroom at Santa Clara County Superior Court in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, March 18, 2013. Shirakawa pleaded guilty to five felonies, including four counts of perjury and one count of misappropriation of public funds, as well as seven misdemeanors for failing to file accurate campaign reports. (Gary Reyes/ Staff)
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Gary Reyes
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Meanwhile, the state's Fair Political Practices Commission is negotiating a settlement over $50,000 in fines Shirakawa owes for 10 violations of the Political Reform Act. In recent weeks the FPPC has worked with Shirakawa to reconstruct some of his missing campaign filings. Those reconstructed files could be made public in April. Depending on the detail, those files could provide insights into who was donating to Shirakawa, though the details of some cash contributions may never be known.

The 51-year-old Shirakawa's downfall came swiftly after news reports late last year revealed he was behind in filing campaign finance reports, and that he hid his misuse of a county-issued credit card by repeatedly filing "missing receipt memos."

The DA found in a four-month investigation that Shirakawa had filed perjured campaign finance reports, accepted illegal cash donations, and used his county credit card for his personal entertainment. Taxpayers funded his casino jaunts, golf excursions, and numerous restaurant meals with his friends, staffers and even former housemate.

Still uncertain is what if any jail time Shirakawa will receive. While the DA plans to push for a one-year jail sentence, Williams will likely argue his client should serve no time at all. On April 30, the judge will set a sentencing hearing, after receiving reports from the DA and probation officials. Santa Clara County Probation Chief Sheila Mitchell said she will ask another county to prepare the pre-sentencing report, given the "high-profile" nature of the case and to avoid any conflict of interest.

Victims who lost money in Shirakawa's campaign scam -- that included a secret "slush fund" -- are expected to testify at Shirakawa's sentencing.

Shirakawa's probation could involve restrictions on his behavior -- such as no gambling or alcohol consumption -- and requirements that he attend treatment programs and perform community service. Already, the east San Jose resident has been forced to surrender four guns from his Apollo Drive home. Any violation of his probation could result in a prison term or additional jail time.

Although initially defiant as his misdeeds became public, Shirakawa resigned on March 1, the day charges were filed against him by the DA in conjunction with the FPPC. In a public statement that day, he apologized and blamed his crimes on depression and a gambling addiction. A special election to replace the District 2 supervisor will be held June 4.

Greg Nichols appeared to be one of the few non-media onlookers at Monday's hearing. Nichols, who ran against Shirakawa for a local school board seat in 1992, said: "He still has to explain to people why he did what he did. It's one thing to say 'yes' to a judge, it's another to have to explain to the people."